FinFETs and fin isolation structures
FinFETs and fin isolation structures and methods of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The method includes patterning a bulk substrate to form a plurality of fin structures of a first dimension and of a second dimension. The method includes forming oxide material in spaces between the plurality of fin structures of the first dimension and the second dimension. The method includes forming a capping material over sidewalls of selected ones of the fin structures of the first dimension and the second dimension. The method includes recessing the oxide material to expose the bulk substrate on sidewalls below the capping material. The method includes performing an oxidation process to form silicon on insulation fin structures and bulk fin structures with gating. The method further includes forming a gate structure over the SOI fin structures and the bulk fin structures.
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The invention relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to finFETs and fin isolation structures and methods of manufacturing the same.
BACKGROUNDSilicon on insulator (SOI) substrates can be used in place of conventional silicon BULK substrates in semiconductor manufacturing. These SOI wafers provide many advantages in microelectronics such as the reduction of parasitic device capacitance, which results in improved device performance. SOI-based devices differ from conventional silicon-built devices in that the silicon junction is above an electrical insulator, typically silicon dioxide. The insulating layer and topmost silicon layer also vary widely with application. SOI substrates are very expensive to use in the manufacturing of semiconductor devices.
SUMMARYIn one or more embodiments of the invention, a method comprises patterning a bulk substrate to form a plurality of fin structures of a first dimension and a plurality of fin structures of a second dimension. The method further comprises forming oxide material in spaces formed between the plurality of fin structures of the first dimension and the plurality of fin structures of the second dimension. The method further comprises forming a capping material over sidewalls of selected ones of the plurality of fin structures of the first dimension and the plurality of fin structures of the second dimension. The method further comprises recessing the oxide material to expose the bulk substrate on sidewalls below the capping material. The method further comprises performing an oxidation process to form silicon on insulation (SOI) fin structures from the selected ones of the plurality of fin structures of the first dimension, and bulk fin structures with gating from the selected ones of the plurality of fin structures of the second dimension. The method further comprises forming a gate structure over the SOI fin structures and the bulk fin structures.
In one or more embodiments of the invention, a method comprises patterning a bulk substrate and a cap layer to form a plurality of narrow fins and a plurality of wide fins. The method further comprises depositing oxide material within spaces between the plurality of narrow fins and the plurality of wide fins. The method further comprises depositing a capping material over sidewalls the plurality of narrow fins and the plurality of wide fins. The method further comprises removing the capping material on the sidewalls of selected ones of the plurality of narrow fins and the plurality of wide fins. The method further comprises recessing the oxide material to below the capping material to expose the bulk substrate. The method further comprises performing an oxidation process on exposed portions of the bulk substrate which forms: one or more substrate on insulator fin structures; one or more bulk substrate fin structures; and one or more insulator structures.
In one or more embodiments of the invention, a structure comprises a plurality of finFETs of a first dimension comprising a bulk substrate and an oxidized layer of the bulk substrate. The structure further comprises a plurality of insulator fins comprising an oxidized layer of the bulk substrate extending along or substantially along its entire length. The structure further comprises a plurality of bulk finFETs of a second dimension larger than the first dimension. The plurality of bulk finFETs are formed from the bulk substrate, with oxidized sidewalls formed therein.
In another aspect of the invention, a design structure tangibly embodied in a machine readable storage medium for designing, manufacturing, or testing an integrated circuit is provided. The design structure comprises the structures of the present invention. In further embodiments, a hardware description language (HDL) design structure encoded on a machine-readable data storage medium comprises elements that when processed in a computer-aided design system generates a machine-executable representation of the finFET structures, which comprises the structures of the present invention. In still further embodiments, a method in a computer-aided design system is provided for generating a functional design model of the finFET structures. The method comprises generating a functional representation of the structural elements of the finFET structures.
The present invention is described in the detailed description which follows, in reference to the noted plurality of drawings by way of non-limiting examples of exemplary embodiments of the present invention.
The invention relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to finFETs and fin isolation structures and methods of manufacturing the same. Advantageously, by using the process flows of the present invention it is now possible to gain benefits of SOI, without using an SOI wafer as the base substrate. This, in turn, significantly reduces manufacturing costs. Also, advantageously, the present invention provides benefits to large width structures, and particularly, large width finFETs. For example, these benefits include different Vt and continuous control of “gate width”.
More specifically, the present invention provides process flows to form SOI (silicon-on-insulation) like finFETs entirely from a BULK wafer. The process flow also enables a fabrication process to form BULK finFETs. Moreover, the present invention provides SOI-like processing to isolate fins from each other, by forming isolation structures during the formation of the finFETs. In addition, the present invention enables the manufacture of finFET structures which have much lower aspect ratios than conventional structures.
The structure 5 of
In embodiments, the narrow fin structures 20 and the wide fin structures 25 are used to form SOI-like finFETs, BULK finFETs and isolation structures. These narrow fin structures 20 and the wide fin structures 25 can be formed using lithography and etching techniques. By way of non-limiting example, the narrow fin structures 20 and wide fin structures 25 can be formed using conventional direct lithography processes, known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Also, one of skill in the art would recognize that the narrow fin structures 20 and wide fin structures 25 can be formed using sidewall image transfer (SIT) techniques or a SIT-squared technique or variations thereof to pattern lithographic and sub-lithographic features and the spacing 30 therebetween.
In the SIT technique, for example, a mandrel is formed on the cap layer 15, using conventional deposition, lithography and etching processes. In a SIT-squared technique, two mandrels can be used, one set of mandrels formed on top of an offset from another set of mandrels. In an example of a SIT technique, a mandrel material, e.g., SiO2, is deposited on the cap layer 15 using conventional CVD processes. A resist is formed on the mandrel material, and exposed to light to form a pattern (openings). A reactive ion etching is performed through the openings to form the mandrels. In embodiments, the mandrels can have different widths and/or spacing depending on the desired dimensions between the narrow fin structures 20 and/or wide fin structures 25. (A SIT squared technique can be used to form different spacings between adjacent narrow fin structures.) Spacers are formed on the sidewalls of the mandrels which are preferably material that is different than the mandrels, and which are formed using conventional deposition processes known to those of skill in the art. The spacers can have a width which matches the dimensions of the narrow fin structures 20, for example. The mandrels are removed or stripped using a conventional etching process, selective to the mandrel material. An etching is then performed within the spacing of the spacers to form the sub-lithographic features. The sidewall spacers can then be stripped. In embodiments, the wide fin structures can also be formed during this or other patterning processes, or through other conventional patterning processes, as contemplated by the present invention.
In
In
Following the processes in
In
In an optional embodiment, still referring to
In embodiments, the oxide material will also be formed completely on the exposed BULK material 10 of the narrow fin structures 20b resulting in isolation structures. Note that the narrow fin structures do not have any Si material at the tops thereof, in contrast to the narrow fin structures 20. With this difference, the narrow fin structures 20b will be formed into the isolation structures and the narrow fin structures 20 will be formed into SOI-like fin structures. One of skill in the art should realize that the fin structures 25, 25a are of such a width that the oxide material will not form completely therethrough.
It should also be understood by those of skill in the art that protected portions 20a of the narrow fin structures 20 shown in
In
Design flow 900 may vary depending on the type of representation being designed. For example, a design flow 900 for building an application specific IC (ASIC) may differ from a design flow 900 for designing a standard component or from a design flow 900 for instantiating the design into a programmable array, for example a programmable gate array (PGA) or a field programmable gate array (FPGA) offered by Altera® Inc. or Xilinx® Inc.
Design process 910 preferably employs and incorporates hardware and/or software modules for synthesizing, translating, or otherwise processing a design/simulation functional equivalent of the components, circuits, devices, or logic structures shown in
Design process 910 may include hardware and software modules for processing a variety of input data structure types including netlist 980. Such data structure types may reside, for example, within library elements 930 and include a set of commonly used elements, circuits, and devices, including models, layouts, and symbolic representations, for a given manufacturing technology (e.g., different technology nodes, 32 nm, 45 nm, 90 nm, etc.). The data structure types may further include design specifications 940, characterization data 950, verification data 960, design rules 970, and test data files 985 which may include input test patterns, output test results, and other testing information. Design process 910 may further include, for example, standard mechanical design processes such as stress analysis, thermal analysis, mechanical event simulation, process simulation for operations such as casting, molding, and die press forming, etc. One of ordinary skill in the art of mechanical design can appreciate the extent of possible mechanical design tools and applications used in design process 910 without deviating from the scope and spirit of the invention. Design process 910 may also include modules for performing standard circuit design processes such as timing analysis, verification, design rule checking, place and route operations, etc.
Design process 910 employs and incorporates logic and physical design tools such as HDL compilers and simulation model build tools to process design structure 920 together with some or all of the depicted supporting data structures along with any additional mechanical design or data (if applicable), to generate a second design structure 990.
Design structure 990 resides on a storage medium or programmable gate array in a data format used for the exchange of data of mechanical devices and structures (e.g. information stored in a IGES, DXF, Parasolid XT, JT, DRG, or any other suitable format for storing or rendering such mechanical design structures). Similar to design structure 920, design structure 990 preferably comprises one or more files, data structures, or other computer-encoded data or instructions that reside on transmission or data storage media and that when processed by an ECAD system generate a logically or otherwise functionally equivalent form of one or more of the embodiments of the invention shown in
Design structure 990 may also employ a data format used for the exchange of layout data of integrated circuits and/or symbolic data format (e.g., information stored in a GDSII (GDS2), GL1, OASIS, map files, or any other suitable format for storing such design data structures). Design structure 990 may comprise information such as, for example, symbolic data, map files, test data files, design content files, manufacturing data, layout parameters, wires, levels of metal, vias, shapes, data for routing through the manufacturing line, and any other data required by a manufacturer or other designer/developer to produce a device or structure as described above and shown in
The method as described above is used in the fabrication of integrated circuit chips. The resulting integrated circuit chips can be distributed by the fabricator in raw wafer form (that is, as a single wafer that has multiple unpackaged chips), as a bare die, or in a packaged form. In the latter case the chip is mounted in a single chip package (such as a plastic carrier, with leads that are affixed to a motherboard or other higher level carrier) or in a multichip package (such as a ceramic carrier that has either or both surface interconnections or buried interconnections). In any case the chip is then integrated with other chips, discrete circuit elements, and/or other signal processing devices as part of either (a) an intermediate product, such as a motherboard, or (b) an end product. The end product can be any product that includes integrated circuit chips, ranging from toys and other low-end applications to advanced computer products having a display, a keyboard or other input device, and a central processor.
The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain the principles of the embodiments, the practical application or technical improvement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.
Claims
1. A method comprising:
- patterning a bulk substrate to form a plurality of fin structures of a first dimension and a plurality of fin structures of a second dimension;
- forming oxide material in spaces formed between the plurality of fin structures of the first dimension and the plurality of fin structures of the second dimension;
- forming a capping material over sidewalls of selected ones of the plurality of fin structures of the first dimension and the plurality of fin structures of the second dimension;
- recessing the oxide material to expose the bulk substrate on sidewalls below the capping material;
- performing an oxidation process to form silicon on insulation (SOI) fin structures from the selected ones of the plurality of fin structures of the first dimension, and bulk fin structures from the selected ones of the plurality of fin structures of the second dimension; and
- forming a gate structure over the SOI fin structures and the bulk fin structures.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the forming of the capping material is a deposition process which covers the oxide material, which remains between portions of adjacent fins of the plurality of fins of the first dimension and is removed between the selected ones of the plurality of fin structures of the first dimension.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first dimension is smaller than the second dimension, in width.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein:
- the first dimension is of a width that allows the oxidation process to completely oxidize the exposed portion of the bulk substrate on sidewalls below the capping material; and
- the second dimension is of a width that allows partial oxidation of the exposed portion of the bulk substrate on sidewalls below the capping material.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the capping material is nitride.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the oxidation process forms isolation structures from the plurality of fin structures of the first dimension located between the SOI fin structures and the bulk fin structures.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the isolation structures are oxide fins formed from the bulk substrate on any of the plurality of fin structures of the first dimension where the capping material has been removed from sidewalls thereof.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second dimension is of such a width that oxidation forms only on sidewalls of the bulk fin structures.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the oxidation is formed along an full length of the sidewalls.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein the oxidation is formed on an partial section of the sidewalls, below the capping material.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the forming of the gate structure comprises a deposition and patterning of a metal material.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the forming of the gate structure comprising a deposition and patterning of a poly material.
13. The method of claim 1, further comprising protecting portions of the capping material over one or more of the plurality of fin structures of the first dimension to prevent the oxidation process from forming SOI fin structures.
14. A method, comprising:
- patterning a bulk substrate and a cap layer to form a plurality of narrow fins and a plurality of wide fins;
- depositing oxide material within spaces between the plurality of narrow fins and the plurality of wide fins;
- depositing a capping material over sidewalls the plurality of narrow fins and the plurality of wide fins;
- removing the capping material on the sidewalls of selected ones of the plurality of narrow fins and the plurality of wide fins;
- recessing the oxide material to below the capping material to expose the bulk substrate;
- performing an oxidation process on exposed portions of the bulk substrate which forms: one or more substrate on insulator fin structures; one or more bulk substrate fin structures; and one or more insulator structures.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein:
- the one or more substrate on insulator fin structures is formed from selected narrow fins structures which included capping material on the sidewalls;
- the one or more bulk substrate fin structures is formed from the plurality of wide fin structures; and
- the one or more insulator structures is formed from the selected ones of the plurality of narrow fins with removed capping material.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising forming gate material spanning the one or more substrate on insulator fin structures, the one or more insulator structures and the one or more bulk substrate fin structures.
17. The method of claim 16, further comprising protecting one or more of the plurality of narrow fin structures during the oxidation to form narrow bulk fin structures.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the protecting is formed by depositing the capping material over the one or more of the plurality of narrow fin structures.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Feb 20, 2013
Date of Patent: Jul 22, 2014
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation (Armonk, NY)
Inventors: Marc A. Bergendahl (Hopewell Junction, NY), David V. Horak (Essex Junction, NY), Charles W. Koburger, III (Delmar, NY), Shom Ponoth (Clifton Park, NY), Chih-Chao Yang (Glenmont, NY)
Primary Examiner: Yu-Hsi D Sun
Assistant Examiner: Grant Withers
Application Number: 13/771,240
International Classification: H01L 21/336 (20060101); H01L 27/12 (20060101); H01L 21/762 (20060101);